Comments
Sun, 05/01/2022 - 20:01
As a man myself, this was informative. I'm always looking for ways to advance gender equality, and this is a very good starting point for improving my own activism
1. Actively listen to women’s perspectives.
Women are the experts on their own life experiences, so seek out opportunities to hear women’s stories – and take their concerns seriously, without interrupting or trying to downplay incidents of sexism. Amplify women’s voices, acknowledge their experiences – and take on the role of educating other men – in a way that inspires trust and respect; these are fundamental commitments men can make.
2. Reflect on your own power and privilege as a man.
Being an effective ally starts with self-awareness: How has your gender influenced the opportunities you’ve had in life? What are you able to do only because you are a man? Beyond gender, listening to individuals with different backgrounds from your own – in terms of race, sexual orientation, religion or ability – is crucial to understanding how our intersecting identities impact our lived experiences.
3. Credit your female co-workers’ ideas fairly.
Women are still underrepresented in many workplaces and paid less than their male colleagues, in part because their contributions and ideas are often overlooked. Emphasizing the good ideas of female co-workers, mentioning them in front of higher-ups, and correcting colleagues who misattribute credit isn’t giving special treatment to women – it’s treating them with fairness.
4. Advocate for gender-equitable policies in the workplace.
In Promundo’s study, 77 per cent of men said they were doing everything they can to advance gender equality in the workplace – but only 41 per cent of women agreed with that assessment. To close this “allyship gap” between intention and action, speak up for policies that remove bias and advance equality, including pay transparency, parental leave, and confidential reporting structures for sexual harassment.
5. Challenge sexism, and speak up when you hear sexist language.
It’s hard to step in or speak up when you see someone being harassed or treated unfairly, or when those around you are engaging in derogatory “banter,” but men calling each other out sends a powerful message that sexist language and actions will no longer be tolerated.